"In addition, there are the other social costs that arise from immigration such as the growth of political extremism and misogyny, the spread of Sharia law, the prevalence of gang violence in the inner cities and the erosion of democracy through ballot-box fraud by self-styled community leaders."

It is not difficult to see the inference to Muslims in his criticism of the 'social costs' to 'immigration'. Whether in the direct reference to 'sharia law' or the more implicit suggestion of 'political extremism and misogyny' and ' ballot-box fraud by self-styled community leaders'.

The suggestion that 'immigration' is responsible for these social ills squarely place them at the foot of ethnic communities. As though political extremism in the form of the English Defence League or British National Party were of no great significance because these are not the product of 'immigrant' cultures.

Or the idea that misogyny is something one only encounters in non-White cultures. The derision of BBC journalist John Inverdale's remark that French tennis player Marion Bartoli was 'no looker' and the BBC's apology is just one recent example of sexism in our public culture. Are these condescending remarks lesser offences because they were uttered by white British males and therefore not the same class of 'misogyny'?

The 'spread of Sharia law' as indicative of 'immigration' is another canard and betrays the principle of equality that it represents. Would any regard the Beth Din courts used by Jewish litigants preferring religious arbitration an example of 'the social cost of immigration'? Why are Sharia councils used by Muslims availing themselves of the same right to arbitration regarded as culturally inferior and a 'social cost'?

As for the 'erosion of democracy through ballot box fraud by self styled community leaders', one has to take a closer look at practices that have eroded confidence in the democratic process.

There has been much discussion in media and politics in recent days following the announcement of the Coalition's introduction of a statutory register of lobbyists to 'clean up' politics. The PM's election strategist, Lynton Crosby, has come in for particular criticism for his proximity to big business amid allegations of lobbying on their behalf to deter unfavourable policies.

The Coalition's foot dragging on the promise to fulfil a manifesto pledge to tackle 'sleazy lobbying practices', including the number of parliamentary passes made available to officers linked to corporate clients, has attracted widespread criticism for its effect on the democratic process and transparency. But it's unlikely that this 'erosion of democracy' is of much concern to McKinstry. Ballot box fraud is a serious issue and deserving of investigation and prosecution. But it is no less a threat to confidence in our political process than lobbying. It is shameful that McKinstry seeks to racialise this debate by making immigrants the scapegoats and ignoring practices that are far more pervasive and damaging to the functioning of our democracy.

'How Quilliam used former EDL leaders to appeal for money'

04 February 2014

Islamophobia Watch draws attention to the money-seeking efforts of the Quilliam Foundation which sheds some light on the motive for its ‘coup’ in facilitating the supposed conversion from extremism of the former English Defence League leader, Stephen Lennon.

From a freedom of information request, IW discloses that “Maajid Nawaz, chairman and co-founder of Quilliam, immediately fired off two emails to Mark Carroll at the Department for Communities and Local Government asking for financial assistance to facilitate Lennon and Carroll’s supposed break with extremism.”

According to the emails put into the public domain, Maajid wrote to say:

“We at Quilliam are immensely proud to have been able to help bring this transition about. We have offered to support these defections and are currently seeking to raise funds for the costs associated with supporting Tommy Robinson while he transitions away from his current financial dependency on the EDL, with a long term view of helping him reconsider his strategy and tactics under our long-term guidance.

“Please let us know if you can urgently help us with a direct contribution so that we may fund Stephen’s transition and cut off his previous dependency on EDL donors.”

The journey out of extremism by Lennon and Carroll has been instructive indeed with IW highlighting interventions by the two former EDL leaders which show just how far they have come in their ‘transition’.

Lennon in a tweet posted on Jan 17 responds to someone who accused him of denouncing the EDL saying “When have I slagged the Edl off? Remember what I stood for? It's what I stand for! Like I've forgot! I live it everyday.”

Carroll meanwhile has been tweeting his support of the anti-Rohingya Muslim campaign in Burma when not agitating against the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the UK. "FUCK OFF!!!...We are full!" is one of his recent tweets on the subject, according to IW.

Gove makes room for Islam in revised history curriculum

24 July 2013

Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has announced that the new national curriculum will now include a module on the history of Islam.

The absence of Islam in school teaching on history invited considerable criticism when the curriculum was put out for consultation. But Aleia Abbas, columnist for the Asian Image newspaper, notes that revisions to the draft mean that a module on the history of Islam will now be incorporated.“This is good news for all of us that wish Islam to be portrayed in the way it should be, the contribution for example that Islam made to the fields of mathematics, astronomy and medicine”, she writes.

The Muslim Council of Britain, which spearheaded a campaign urging Muslims to take part in the consultation, said at the time that “British Muslim children will see no place for themselves in their country's history, creating the risk of alienation.”

Douglas Murray on 'fanatical' niqab-wearers

04 February 2014

Douglas Murray in a guest column published in the Daily Express on Saturday took aim at niqab-wearing Rebekah Dawson whose refusal to remove her niqab in court on charges of witness intimidation has attracted considerable attention.

Murray, who took part in a TV discussion on the niqab on Channel 4, alongside Yasmin Alibhai Brown, repeatedly refers to Dawson as a ‘fanatic’ observing ‘the most fundamentalist interpretations of Islam’.

Referring to Dawson’s decision to adopt the niqab as a display of ‘contempt’ not just for ‘British justice’ but for ‘British society as a whole’, Murray argues that her case shows that “in letting someone ride roughshod over our norms and bending our system to fit the most extreme Islamic principles this was a ruling about British justice”.

What ‘norms’ exactly is Murray referring to? Given that the UK prides itself on being a liberal democracy and that the tensions between ‘liberal’ and ‘democratic’ tendencies are held together by protections against majority tyranny, how exactly does Dawson’s, or any other Muslim woman’s, choice to adopt niqab ‘ride roughshod over our norms’?

Of course, this is the same Douglas Murray whose feted observance of liberal norms were displayed in his Pim Fortuyn memorial lecture address in 2006 where he called for a stop to “All immigration into Europe from Muslim countries” saying "Conditions for Muslims in Europe must be made harder across the board: Europe must look like a less attractive proposition."

Expressing solidarity with victims of terrorism

22 July 2013

Columnist for the Scottish Sun, Aamer Anwar, in yesterday’s paper reflected on the three bombs found in Walsall, Tipton and Wolverhampton in recent weeks and the near absence of front page coverage of these ‘acts of terror’ or statements of solidarity by Government officials.

Anwar wrote: “These acts of terror within eight miles of each other were not held to be worthy of a front page or lead item on TV news.

“After soldier Lee Rigby’s murder, our Prime MInister spoke to the nation and called a meeting of COBRA within three hours of the murder — yet this time he failed to utter one word of solidarity for those under attack, nor did millions take to social media to show their revulsion at the nail bombers.

“You may be asking why? The focus of the attacks was the Muslim community peacefully praying at mosques packed with men, women and children.”

Almost a month on from the first bomb attack in Walsall, a statement by the Home Secretary has been issued today following the announcement of the arrest of two men in connection with the bomb attacks in the West Midlands and the murder of Mohammed Saleem.